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Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 10.

HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Today marks a significant milestone as we step into the 10th series of the podcast, and this season we celebrate a landmark achievement—our 100th episode! 

Let's have a look back at the most popular episodes so far:

1. E4 Turiya Hanover | The Loss of Significant Partners in Life
2. E51 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 1
3. E1 Rachel Tenpenny | Why and How Healing Is Possible
4. E64 Turiya Hanover | Grief, Trauma, Essence, Connection and Safety
5. E40 Nathalie Himmelrich | Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System

This season, we’re welcoming back grieving parents who shared their stories with me over a decade ago during the interviews for my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple. That book recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and as we hear from these parents again, we’ll learn how their journeys have evolved over the years and how they continue to live with loss and love.

This season, I’ll explore how our nervous system processes traumatic loss and what happens when grief and trauma intertwine. I'll share some more insights from Polyvagal Theory and how this understanding can help you partner your body to regulate itself. 

Season 10 of the podcast will restart next Monday with episode #91. If you'd like to receive updates to never miss an episode and receive special invitations, only sent out to newsletter subscribers, please sign up for the weekly newsletter on nathaliehimmelrich.com.

Thank you for your support and please rate and follow the show.
Blessings, 
Nathalie Himmelrich
Your Podcast Host

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honour of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their grief.

Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing.

Kiley Hanish is Norbert’s mother.
Kiley shares with us: “Ten years ago, I was just at the beginning of my healing journey. Everything has changed since then. I have processed my loss, integrated into my being, found community with other loss parents, and become an advocate for change through Return to Zero: HOPE.” (Check out the link.)

• The Land After Loss metaphor appears in another episode (E81 and 82) and is part of my audio-guided course Healing Steps (https://bit.ly/HealingSteps). 

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honour of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their own grief.
Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing.

Martina Sandles is Hannah’s mother, who would have been 39 years old this year. Here is what she shares with me all these years later: “Quite a few of my friends had weddings or became grandparents and are involved with a little once again. I am grieving the lost dream of all those milestones we didn't get to experience with her, and I still wonder what kind of woman she would have been and what path in life she would have chosen. We could see characteristics emerging and loved her personality, traits I feel we need in the world. It is more a dream of the 'what ifs' and wishing that her siblings would have had a big sister to go to or who would have modelled things for them. Hannah, and my/our living with her till her death, has shaped me and my development so much, I wonder what parts of me would have lived on in her. Not that this is passed on consciously, but by living with each other, sharing values and ways of living.”

Support the show

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Support the show:

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their own grief.
Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your own journey toward healing. (https://www.griefandtraumaacademy.com/healing-steps-course)

Helping people through grief is Rachel’s passion. After her twin baby daughters Aubrey and Ellie died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she’d learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent more than a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss.

Other episodes with Rachel: 

•  S1 E1 Why and How Healing Is Possible 
• S5 E50 Cultivating Healing Versus Coping Mechanism 

Support the show

Find support:

• Offers - free and paid

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
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Send us a text

HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

I first encountered Mary Catherine McDonald through her powerful presence on social media, where she consistently shares insightful perspectives on trauma and healing. Her way of showing up with authenticity and clarity immediately drew me in. I was further captivated when I heard her speak in several podcasts and at a recent online trauma conference, where her depth of knowledge and her insights left a lasting impression. Mary Catherine’s ability to articulate the complexities of trauma while offering hope and practical guidance has encouraged me to invite her onto the podcast as a guest.

Her definition of trauma, which I love, is:
Trauma is an unbearable emotional experience that lacks a relational home.

Mary Catherine (MC) McDonald, PhD, is a research professor and life coach who specializes in the psychology of trauma, stress, and resilience. She has been researching, lecturing, and publishing on the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of trauma and stress for over a decade. She is passionate about destigmatizing trauma, stress, and mental health issues in general, as well as reframing our understanding of trauma in order to better understand and treat it.

• Website: alchemycoaching.life
• IG: @mc.phd
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mc.phd

• Episode with Deb Dana: bit.ly/PodDeb
• Episode with Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor: bit.ly/PodMary
• Episode about Grief Dreams: bit.ly/PodJoshua

Support the show

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Support the show:

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Send us a text

HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Welcome to today's episode of our podcast where we look at how to build resilience when dealing with grief, loss or trauma. 

When people hear the word, they often think of strength, bouncing back quickly, or being unaffected by hardship. But in the context of grief, loss, and trauma, resilience can look very different—it’s not about avoiding pain or pretending that everything is okay.

What is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to continue functioning, even when life feels overwhelming. It’s about adapting to change and hardship in a way that allows you to keep moving forward, even if it’s at your own pace. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel the sadness, anger, or pain. In fact, resilience means you allow yourself to feel those emotions and still find a way to live through them.

In this episode, I want to share with you five practical ways to continue building resilience, no matter where you are in your journey of healing. These are simple, easy-to-follow steps that can help strengthen that inner part of you that’s already doing the work of surviving, processing, and adapting.

Remember, building resilience is a process, and there’s no rush. Take it day by day, and trust that you have the inner strength to weather the storm. 

• Episode 40: Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Deb Dana’s influence first started with her publications and her online workshops, through which she allowed me insights into Polyvagal Theory from a therapist's standpoint. Then, I had the privilege of meeting Deb personally during the Polyvagal Conference in Berlin, an experience that deeply impacted me personally and professionally. Her work on the Polyvagal Theory resonated with me profoundly, offering new insights into the connection between the nervous system and emotional well-being. Deb's compassionate approach and groundbreaking research helped me understand the importance of creating safety and connection in therapeutic settings. Her influence has shaped my practice, allowing me to support my clients more effectively, while also guiding my own journey towards greater self-awareness and emotional resilience.

In this episode, Deb shares how she dealt with the recent death of her husband Bob and takes us through how we can trust our nervous system to guide the way through grief. 

Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how we can use an understanding of the organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory to change the ways we navigate our daily lives.  Deb is well known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both clear and accessible and for her significant contribution pioneering Rhythm of Regulation® methodology, tools, techniques and practices which continue to open up the power of Polyvagal Theory for professionals and curious people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.

Deb’s published work includes The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation, Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring the Self in Safety, the Polyvagal Card Deck, and Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory.

• Website:

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Welcome to today's episode of our podcast. Inspired by a clip I saw on Instagram where Elizabeth Gilbert speaks about the two distinctly different experiences, I feel it’s important to say a bit more. 

 We’re going to dive into understanding the intricacies of emotional health, specifically focusing on the differences between grief and depression. These are often conflated, but they are distinct experiences that require different approaches for effective support and management.

 I’ve personally wrestled with both grief and depression at different stages of my life. My journey through these challenging emotional landscapes taught me a lot, and I hope to share some of that insight with you today.

• Episode 40: Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie, who I know from a community we both are a part of. I also had the pleasure of reading her book on a specific form of grief, a topic that interests me due to personal reasons. So today we're going to dive into a very widely experienced topic, but not as widely spoken about or understood. Ambiguous grief stands for the grief that is experienced after the loss of a relationship with someone but not through death. 

I can't wait to hear Stephanie telling us all she’s got to know since her own personal experience with ambiguous grief.

Stephanie Sarazin is a writer, researcher, and ambiguous grief guide, who aims to support those grieving the loss of a loved one who is still living, but no longer as they once were. Her work began with her own experience of mid-life trauma, which sparked an ambitious journey— spiritually and around the world—to understand, name, and heal the grief she found within her. Her efforts revealed a first-of-its-kind definition for “ambiguous grief,” whereby grief is onset by the loss of a loved one who is still living and wherein the experience of hope presents in the grieving process. She is the author of Soulbroken: A Guidebook For Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief, which won the 2023 Nautilus Books Gold Award in the category of grief and loss.

• Website: www.stephaniesarazin.com
• IG: @stephing_thru
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesarazin/

• Stephanie’s book Soulbroken: A Guidebook For Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief

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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! 

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

In this episode, I will highlight commonly used metaphors for grief and trauma. Metaphors can offer a way to articulate complex emotions and experiences and offer a unique perspective to support those coping with loss and trauma.

Of the 10 most commonly used metaphors, I describe five in more detail this week and the remaining five can be found in episode 81. 

Which one of the grief metaphors described do you relate to the most and why? 

Do you have any other metaphors that helped you navigate your grief and trauma? Let us know! Write a comment here on the blog.  

The Top 10 Metaphors for Understanding Grief:

1. The Ocean of Grief
2. The Darkness of Grief
3. Grief as a Journey
4. The Weight of Grief
5. The Seasons of Grief
6. The Wound of Grief
7. The Dance of Grief
8. Grief as a Cake
9. Grief as a Language
10. Grief as a Foreign Country

·      IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal

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Support the show:

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